Electronic smoking article and improved heater element

Abstract

An electronic cigarette includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, and a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such that the wick delivers the liquid material to the heater. The heater is formed of a mesh material.

We claim: 
     
       1. An electronic vaping device comprising:
 a heater including,
 a ribbon of electrically resistive mesh material wound about a wick, the wick in communication with a liquid supply including liquid material, the heater configured to vaporize liquid material, 
 wherein the ribbon is configured as a helix. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the ribbon comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, copper, copper alloys, ceramic materials coated with film resistive material, nickel-chromium alloys, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       3. The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the ribbon is about 200 to about 600 mesh. 
     
     
       4. The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the ribbon is about 400 mesh. 
     
     
       5. The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the ribbon is formed with wire having a diameter of about 0.001 inch or greater. 
     
     
       6. The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the ribbon is wound about the wick 1 to 10 times. 
     
     
       7. The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the ribbon is elongate at at least one end portion thereof. 
     
     
       8. The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the heater has a length ranging from about 10 mm to about 15 mm. 
     
     
       9. The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the heater has a width ranging from about 0.5 mm to about 2.0 mm. 
     
     
       10. The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the ribbon has an electrical resistance ranging from about 0.3 Ohm to about 10 Ohms. 
     
     
       11. The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the ribbon includes a conductive connection region across a width of the ribbon.